Stolen Mandate: APC Reps Aspirant, Gbolagade Abiodun Drags Rep Akande Sadipe to Court

A fierce legal battle has erupted over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Oluyole Federal Constituency, as a leading aspirant, Hon. Gbolagade Abiodun, has dragged the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, and the APC before a Federal High Court in Ibadan.

In the lawsuit (SUIT NO: FHC/IB/CS/81/2026), pending before Hon. Justice Uche N. Agomoh at Court 1, Abiodun is seeking to retrieve what he describes as his ” stolen mandate.” from the lawmaker.

The matter, which was slated for a hearing yesterday, was adjourned until September 15, 2026, for a definite hearing.

Due to difficulties in reaching the incumbent lawmaker, the court granted an ex-parte motion directing that Hon. Akande-Sadipe be served with the originating summons through substituted service.

Addressing a press conference today, Hon. Abiodun alleged that the lawmaker had gone into hiding and completely evaded the law.

“When the court bailiff called Hon. Tolulope Sadipe to serve her with court processes, she claimed the bailiff was a hired assassin and threatened to report them to the DSS. She has moved all her property out of her rented apartment at the Ajinde area which is about four houses away to my own house. and there is nowhere to locate her now.” Gbolagade said.

Narrating the events of the May 15, 2026 primary election, Abiodun expressed shock at how Akande-Sadipe was handed the INEC form despite a crushing defeat.

According to him, the lawmaker came fifth in the primary, polling a mere 33 votes.
He alleged that while the official primary was witnessed by INEC, DSS, NSCDC, and the Police, Akande-Sadipe held a separate, parallel election at 5:00 AM at an unapproved venue.

“We wonder where she got her own primary election result that made her the winner in an election she never even showed up for,” this is after she had previously vowed not to run for a third term.”

Abiodun revealed that he served as Akande-Sadipe’s collation officer during the 2023 elections at the risk of his life, after which she reportedly promised to step down for him.

He further claimed the lawmaker went on to neglect party members immediately after her re-election in 2023, prompting him to step in and start to fund the members in order to hold the party and make it formidable.

“She is a stranger in our local government who doesn’t own either a village or a building here,” Abiodun argued, noting that his grassroots support is why he won across all ten wards.

Despite the ongoing legal tussle, Abiodun urged his supporters to remain resolute and focused on mobilizing for the general election, which is roughly six months away.

Abiodun who expressed absolute faith in the judiciary, said he was optimistic that the court will retrieve his mandate from the lawmaker, Tolulope Akande Sadipe.